Polio exercising machine



Dec. 14, 1948. M. A. PARK POLI O EXERCISING MACHINE Fi led Sept. 8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 14,1948. MAPARK Y I 2,456,017

Filed Sept. 8, 1947 FOLIO EXERCI SING MACHINE 2 Sheets-She et 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 14, 1948 My...present invention relates generally to sur-f gicalwappliances of the selfexercising type and more specificallyto an improved polio exercising machine, ,that isoperated by the patient for exercising the legs, arms,and sl ioulders and endthe machine includes a horizontally reciproca'ble 'exerciser';;forthe legs and a vertically reciprocable. exerciser forthe arms and shoulders, togetherjwith resiliently operating means for actuating the return'stroke or movement of each.

of themexercisers.

,The'exercising apparatus includes a minimum number of parts'that may with facility be manufactured at low cost of production, and the parts may be assembled with convenience, to constitute a reliable and durable structure that is simple in constructionand which may with ease be operated by the patient while sitting in a chair.

The iinvention consists in'certain' novel features of vconstructionand combinations and arrangements .of parts involving the above mentioned elements as will hereinafter be described and morepa'rticularly set forth in the appended claims. v I

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated' a complete example ofa physical embodiment of the invention wherein the parts are combined vand'arranged in accord with one mode Ihave devised for the practical applicatiomof the'principles of my invention. It will however, beunderstood that changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made in these, exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures; within the scope of my claims, without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure ;1 is'a view in side-elevation of an exer ci'sing appliance in which my invention is physically embodied.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the frame portion of the appliance with some operating parts supported thereon.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the footpressed reciprocable wheeled truck for actuating the mechanism; and

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view at line 44 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my-invention I utilize an upholstered chair having a conventional seat and back as l and 2 and having a tubular supporting frame including arms 3, and legs forming a U-shaped floor bar or base 4 upon which the chair is firmly supported. A supporting frame for the exercising appliance includes a rear tubular upright post 5 rigid with the chair frame, an overhead horizontal bar 6 and a front post I that is united at its lower end with a cross bar 8 that is provided with end legs 9.

The cross bar 8 is united, as by welding with a rail-frame that includes laterally spaced horizontal rails l0, Ill of tubular construction, and a cross brace ll unites the rails near their inner 6 Claims. (01, d

endsithatlare.afiiired' to the chair frame.

chair,.f1ame,,the' overhead frame, and the rail The frame, are fallrigidly united, as by welding, or in, -.ot her. 'suitablefmanncr, to provide a strong and.substantialstructur'e for the operating parts of .the-applia "Spaced '11 front of the chair. and mounted upon the horizontal rails'ililjllLa leg -exercising truck is reciprocably mounted and'adapted'to be pressed by the'feet'or'pushedby the patient who occupies the chair, for an outstroke or movement of the is also'operativelyconnectedwith the vertically truck,fand for rendering operative the horizontally movable exerciser and the vertically movable exerciser. iFor this purpose the truck is equipped witha horizontal floor or leg-rest l2, and janfupri'ght slightly inclined foot-rest or presser-bo'ard 'l3, "and four wheels as H! are journaled on two spaced jaxles l5, the wheels beingfprovidedfl' with exterior annular grooves complementaryto the tubulartrackrails or tubes to, l0,"and-ea'ch wheel is'equipped with a guard as IS-welded to an axle and provided with a retainingarm ll tofprevent derailment of the truck.

For actuatingthe operating parts the truck is provided with a depending arm or leg 18 to which an'ope'rating cable 19 is attached,-and the cable passes to' th'e rearovera guide pulley 20 that is journale'dinabracket 2| mounted at the under side of the chair seat. From pulley 20 the cable extends forwardly audits forward end is attached to--a "helical tension spring 22 that is anchored by means of an adjusting screw bar 23 to a post o'r 'lug 24 'depending"from the cross bar 8. By means of a wing nut 25 bearing against the anchoring lug the screw bar may be adjusted in its threaded bearing to decrease and to increase the tension of thespring and thereby accommodate the movement of'the exercising'truck th'e'varia ble strength of the patients.

The-foot-pressed and resiliently returned truck reciprocable exerciser for the arms and shoulders that is suspended in the overhead frame where it is readily accessible by hand-grasp to the patient occupying the chair For this purpose a second cable 26, is attached to the front end of the truck and extended forwardly to, under, and around a guide pulley 2'! journaled in a bracket '28 fixed to the lower end of the front post I. The cable then extends upwardly and around an elevated guide pulley 29, journaled in a corner of the overhead frame, and thence rearwardly along the horizontal bar toward an adjustable suspending head 30 that is slidably mounted on the bar and fixed in adjusted postion as by a set screw 3|.

This adjustable anchoring head for the cable, and from which the adjustable arm and shoulder exerciser is suspended, is equipped with a pair of depending arms 32 in which an oscillating pulley 33 is journaled at 34, and the end of the cable 26 is anchored at 35 to the pulley for imparting thereto one of its oscillating strokes.

A tangentially arranged lever-arm 36 is attached to the fulcrum-pulley 33 and the arm is provided with a series of spaced holes as 31 for attachment of a sling having a suspending hook 38 and a handle bar or cross bar 39, and the exercising sling may be suspended from a selected hole of the lever arm to vary the leverage of the arm.

In actual practice the patient sits in the chair 2. In an exercising appliance including a chair for a patient, a rigid rail frame, and an overhead frame, the combination with a wheeled footpressed truck reciprocably mounted on the rail frame, and resilient means for returning the truck toward the chair, of a vertically reciprocable hand-exerciser mounted in the overhead frame for ams and shoulders, and operative connections with his knees bent upwardly, hislegs'resting upon the truck, and with his feet against the presser board E3 of the truck; then by pulling down the knees and straightening the legs, the truck is pushed away from the chair for an' out-stroke against the tension of: the spring 22 and the spring is extended. W en foot-pressure against the board is released the contracting spring pulls the truck on an in-stroke toward the chair, and this reciprocating movement of the truck' is repeated as required, for exercising the legs.

The arm and shoulder exerciser may also be utilized simultaneously with the leg exerciser, and the patient may grasp the hand bar 39 with both hands at the first downward movement of the sling, which is permitted with the out-stroke of the truck. Thus the sling and the cross bar of the arm and shoulder exerciser are vertically reciprocated by the horizontal out-stroke and in-stroke of the truck, and the arms and shoulders of the patient are exercised as needed. 7

The exercising appliance may be adjusted within a wide range for adults and children by varying the tension of the spring 22; and also by 35 adjusting the position of the suspending head 30 on the overhead bar, as Well as by adjusting the location of the hanger or sling on the lever arm 38.

The appliance may selectively be used for simulnailed in Said h a ped sling pivfliially taneously exercising both. of the upper and lower limbs; for exercising the lower limbs; and also for exercising the upper limbs.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an exercising appliance including a chair for a patient and a rigid rail frame, the combination with a wheeled foot-pressed'truck spaced from the chair and reciprocable on the rail-frame,

fromthe"reciprocating truck for actuating the overhead exerclser.

3.'1"n an exercising appliance including a chair, a rigid-rail frame-1 andia rigid overhead frame, the combination with a wheeled foot-pressed truck reciprocably mounted on the rail frame, and a hand-grasped exerciser -mounted for vertical reciprocation in the overhead frame; of resilient means coacting with the chair and rail-frame. for a return movement of the truck, and operative connections from the reciprocating truck. for actuating the hand-grasped exerciser.

l; In an exercising appliance including achair, a guide pulley mounted on the chair, a rigid rail frame and arigid overhead frame, the combination with a wheeled foot-pressed truck reciprocably mounted on the rail frame, and'a hand-- grasped exerciser mounted for vertical reciprocation on the overhead frame, of a cable attached at one end to the truck and passing around the guide. pulley mounted on the chair, anadjustable screw bar mounted in the rail frame, and an extensible spring anchoring the other end of the cable tosaidscrew'bar.

5-,In anexercising appliance including a chair; a rigid rail frame and an overhead frame, the combination with wheeled foot-pressed truck reciprocabl'y mounted on the rail frame and resilient means 'for returning the truck toward the chair, of an adjustable head mounted on the overhead frame, a pully having a rigid. lever arm andljourmounted on the lever arm, an operating cabl'e having its end connected respectively to said truck and pulley,, and guide pulleys for said cable.

6. In an exercising appliance including a chair, a rail frame andan overhead. frame. the combination with a foot-pressed truck reciprocably mounted on therail frame, and a hand-grasped.

exerciser mounted for vertical reciprocation in the overhead frame, of resilient meansv causing a return movement of the truck, and operating cable connections-from the truck for actuating. the hand-grasped exerciser.

. I MARIONA. PARK- No references cited. 

